One Mississippi city is considering tougher penalties to address people who have become more aggressive with panhandling and criminal loitering within the city limits.

The Oxford Board of Aldermen is considering amending the city’s peddler laws. The amendment, proposed by the Oxford Police Department, adds clauses to deal with criminal loitering and aggressive panhandling and assesses penalties for those violations.

OPD Chief Jeff McCutchen presented the ordinance amendment to the board on Tuesday at their regular meeting.

It was the first reading of the proposed addition.

“We’ve dealt with this for a number of years of not having a way to move people engaging in aggressive panhandling at intersections or on the edge of private property; and individuals loitering within the city,” he said.

The ordinance defines criminal loitering as anyone who “stands, lurks, loiters, or positions themselves, or causes a minor under their supervision to stand, lurk, loiter or position themselves within or upon the following places in any manner restricting the free flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, endangering themselves, the public or any public safety personnel, or creating reasonable fear of danger to the personal safety and welfare of the immediate community.”

Aggressive panhandling is defined as someone who is using violent or threatening gestures toward a person; continuing to solicit from someone who has already told them “No,” intentionally touching someone; intentionally blocking or interfering with the safe or free passage of pedestrians or vehicles, soliciting money from anyone who is waiting in line for tickets or entry into a building; approaching or following people in a manner and with conduct, words or gestures intended or likely to cause a reasonable person to be afraid; A person commits the offense of aggressive panhandling if the person solicits, begs or panhandles minors less than 18 years old; and from people at ATM’s, check cashing businesses, banks, parking garages, entrance or exit of outdoor seating areas in front of restaurants or service areas of those businesses; by parking meters, bus stations, public restrooms, within 50 feet from any school, within 10 feet of a gas station or an entrance of a commercial building.

Anyone who is charged with criminal loitering or aggressive panhandling will face a fine up to $1,000 or jail time not to exceed 90 days.

A second reading and public hearing will be held at 5 p.m. on Sept. 3 at City Hall during the next regular Board of Aldermen meeting.